Deflector Mechanism of Sunroof Device

ABSTRACT

A deflector member may include a front portion positioned on the front side of the opening and corner portions extending, in a curved manner, rearward from both ends of the front portion, respectively. A lower edge of the deflector member may form a notch between the front portion and the corner portion. The lower edge member can be divided into a front lower edge member attached to a lower edge of the front portion, and an arc-shaped lower edge member attached to a lower edge of the corner portion. The frame structure may be provided with a front attachment body and an arc-shaped attachment body to which the front lower edge member and the arc-shaped lower edge member are detachably attached, respectively.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a deflector mechanism using acollapsible deflector member mounted in a sunroof device of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

In a sunroof device of a vehicle, a deflector mechanism is provided toprevent wind inclusion into the opening when the slide roof is movedrearward to uncover the opening. For this deflector mechanism, acollapsible deflector member which allows wind deflection andrectification is used as a deflector blade.

A first conventional technique in Patent Literature 1 is configured suchthat a lower edge of a deflector member is attached to a lower edgemember to fix the lower edge member to a frame; an upper edge of thedeflector member is formed in a bag shape to be fitted and attached toan upper edge member (lateral bar); ends of arms are connected to bothends of the upper edge member; a base end of each of these arms ispivotally supported to an inner frame so as to be vertically swingable;and the arms are urged upward so as to be able to change the posture ofthe deflector member from a collapsed posture to a wind deflectingposture. The deflector member has a shape in which only a front portionwith a length over the full width in a lateral direction is present on afront side of the opening and no corner portions extending to sideportions of the opening are formed.

A second conventional technique in Patent Literature 2 is configuredsuch that a lower edge member (lower frame) is attached to a lower edgeof a deflector member. Thus, this lower edge member is fixed to an innerframe; an upper edge of the deflector member is integrally molded ofresin so as to be buried in an upper edge member (upper frame); theupper edge member integrally includes a frame part at a center portionand paired arm portions extending rearward from both ends of this framepart via corner portions; a base end of each of these arms is pivotallysupported to the inner frame so as to be vertically swingable; and thearm portions are pressed upward so as to be able to change the postureof the deflector member from a collapsed posture to a wind deflectingposture. The deflector member has formed therein a front portion overthe full width in a lateral direction on a front side of the opening andcorner portions at both left and right ends, and upper edges of thefront portion and the corner portions are fixedly attached to the framepart and the arm portions of the upper edge member, while lower edges ofthe front portion and the corner portions are fixedly attached to onelower edge member with both ends curved.

CITATION LIST Patent Literatures

-   Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 2012-81876-   Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 2014-198493

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In the first conventional technique, the deflector member has only thefront portion formed and no corner portions provided to extend.Moreover, a connection mechanism is such that the ends of the arms andthe upper edge member (lateral bar) are orthogonal, it is difficult toprovide the corner portions as extending from both ends of the frontportion of the deflector member.

In the second conventional technique, since the corner portions areprovided in the deflector member to extend from the front portion overthe full width in the lateral direction on the front side of theopening, wind is deflected upward at the front portion of the deflectormember and, in addition, wind inclusion into the opening can beprevented by the corner portions at both left and right ends of thefront portion. However, one lower edge member to which the lower edge ofthe front portion is fixedly attached has to be folded in a curved shapeat both ends to fixedly attach the lower edges of the corner portions,thereby making assembly of the deflector mechanism cumbersome.

Also, a structure such as cables of the drive mechanism may be disposedabove the frame structure from a fore part to left and right sideportions. If such a structure is present, it is difficult to dispose thelower edges of the left and right corner parts while avoiding thestructure, and is also difficult to form a deflector mechanism with thecorner portions thinned in a vehicle's vertical or width direction.

The present invention is to provide a deflector mechanism of a sunroofdevice capable of solving these problems in the conventional techniques.

The present invention is to provide a deflector mechanism of a sunroofdevice in which wind rectification on left and right side portions ofthe deflector member can be made by the left and right corner portions;even if a structure is present above the frame structure, the mechanismis thinned in the vehicle's vertical or width direction by avoiding thestructure; and the lower edges of the left and right corner portions canbe easily attached.

Solution to Problem

Specific means for solving the problem in the present invention are asfollows.

First, the invention is characterized by a deflector mechanism D of asunroof device that is disposed in a fore part of a frame structure Fdisposed under an opening K formed in a roof R of a vehicle and that isconfigured to move upward, as a roof panel P configured to cover anduncover the opening K moves rearward from a fully closed position, thedeflector mechanism D comprising:

a collapsible deflector member 11 including a front portion 11 apositioned on the front side of the opening K and corner portions 11 bextending, in a curved manner, rearward from both ends of the frontportion 11 a, respectively;

a lower edge member 12 fixed to a lower edge of the deflector member 11and attached to the fore part of the frame structure F;

an upper edge member 13 supporting an upper edge of the deflector member11; and

arms 14, each including an arm end 15 connected to one of longitudinalends of the upper edge member 13, and a base portion attached to theframe structure F in a manner that allows the arm end 15 to move upwardand downward, wherein

a lower edge of the deflector member 11 includes a notch 11 e betweenthe front portion 11 a and the corner portion 11 b,

the lower edge member 12 is divided into a front lower edge member 12 aattached to a lower edge of the front portion 11 a, and an arc-shapedlower edge member 12 b attached to a lower edge of the corner portion 11b, and

the frame structure F includes a front attachment body 17 and anarc-shaped attachment body 18 to which the front lower edge member 12 aand the arc-shaped lower edge member 12 b are detachably attached,respectively.

Secondly, the invention is characterized in that the arc-shapedattachment body 18 includes an arc-shaped groove portion 18 a includinga groove into which the arc-shaped lower edge member 12 b is removablyinserted in a substantially horizontal direction, and a detachmentprevention portion 18 b configured to prevent the arc-shaped lower edgemember 12 b inserted into the arc-shaped groove portion 18 a, from beingdetached upward.

Thirdly, the invention is characterized in that the arc-shapedattachment body 18 includes a bridge portion 18 c disposed at a positioncorresponding to the notch 11 e of the lower edge of the deflectormember 11, and an end attachment portion 18 d that is adjacent to thebridge portion 18 c and to which an end of the front lower edge member12 a is detachably attached.

Fourthly, the invention is characterized in that the front portion 11 aincludes a bonded portion 11 f bonded to the front lower edge member 12a such that the bonded portion extends downward from an edge of thefront portion, and an unbonded portion 11 g adjacent to the bondedportion 11 f, and an end of the unbonded portion 11 g is supported bythe upper edge member 13.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, wind rectification on the left andright side portions of the deflector member can be made by the left andright corner portions and, even if a structure is present above theframe structure, the lower edges of the left and right corner portionscan be easily attached.

That is, in the invention according to claim 1, the notch 11 e is formedon the lower edge of the deflector member 11 having the left and rightcorner portions 11 b, the lower edge member 12 is divided into the frontlower edge member 12 a and the arc-shaped lower edge member 12 b, andthe frame structure F is provided with the front attachment body 17 andthe arc-shaped attachment body 18. Thus, wind rectification on the leftand right side portions of the deflector member 11 can be made and, evenif a structure is present above the frame structure F, the lower edgesof the left and right corner portions 11 b can be easily attached whileavoiding the structure.

In the invention according to claim 2, the arc-shaped attachment body 18has formed therein the arc-shaped groove portion 18 a including a grooveinto which the arc-shaped lower edge member 12 b is removably insertedin a substantially horizontal direction, and the detachment preventionportion 18 b configured to prevent the arc-shaped lower edge member 12 binserted into the arc-shaped groove portion 18 a, from being detachedupward. Thus, the lower edge of the corner portion 11 b of the deflectormember 11 can be attached as being kept in an arc shape. Also, since thearc-shaped groove portion 18 a is fixed by inserting the arc-shapedlower edge member 12 b is inserted in a substantially horizontaldirection, the thickness in the vehicle's vertical direction can bedecreased, and space saving can be achieved. In the invention accordingto claim 3, the arc-shaped attachment body 18 has formed therein thebridge portion 18 c and the end attachment portion 18 d adjacently tothe arc-shaped groove portion 18 a. Thus, even if a structure is presentabove the frame structure F, the structure can be avoided by a cavity inthe bridge portion 18 c, and the end of the front lower edge member 12 acan be attached to the end attachment portion 18 d. Thus, the frontportion 11 a and the lower edges of the corner portions 11 b of thedeflector member 11 can be attached at correct positions.

In the invention according to claim 4, the front portion 11 a includesthe bonded portion 11 f bonded to the front lower edge member 12 a suchthat the bonded portion 11 f extends downward from an edge of the frontportion 11 a, and an unbonded portion 11 g adjacent to the bondedportion 11 f, and the end of the unbonded portion 11 g is supported bythe upper edge member 13. Thus, the unbonded portion 11 g can dropdownward when the deflector member 11 is stored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general exploded perspective view of a sunroof devicedepicting an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A depicts a cross section acquired by cutting the sunroof devicealong its center line and is a cross-sectional side view in a posturewith a roof panel closed.

FIG. 2B depicts a cross section acquired by cutting the sunroof devicealong the center line and is a cross-sectional side view in a posturewith the roof panel fully opened.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sunroof device acquired by cutting thesunroof device along the center line, with the roof panel and a closingpanel removed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view depicting a drive mechanism, a blindmechanism, a drip mechanism, and so forth of the sunroof device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view depicting a deflector mechanism of thesunroof device.

FIG. 6A depicts a cross section of the deflector mechanism and is across-sectional view of a corner portion of a deflector member.

FIG. 6B depicts a cross section of the deflector mechanism and is across-sectional view of a lower portion of a front portion of of thedeflector member.

FIG. 7 is a plan view depicting main portions of the deflectormechanism.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view depicting an arm end.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view depicting main portions of the deflectormechanism.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a drip mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the drip mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the drip mechanism.

FIG. 13 depicts a front portion of the drip mechanism.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the drip mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following, embodiments of the present invention are describedbased on the drawings.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 14 , an opening K is formed in a roof R of a passengerautomobile vehicle depicted as one example of a vehicle, and a sunroofdevice 1 is attached from an in-car side to a lower surface of the roofR of the vehicle on the peripheral edge of this opening K. Note that thewidth direction of the vehicle corresponds to a lateral direction andthe forward side corresponds to the front.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 , the sunroof device 1 includes a frame structure Fdisposed under the opening K of the roof R of the vehicle, a transparentclosing panel N closing a substantially rear half of the opening K, aroof panel P closing a substantially front half of the opening K andconfigured to cover and uncover the opening K, a drive mechanism E whichcauses this roof panel P to perform a tilting motion and a slidingmotion, a deflector mechanism D disposed in a fore part of the framestructure F, a drip mechanism H which moves with a rear edge of the roofpanel P, and a blind mechanism B capable of causing a blind member Ba toadvance from a rear part to the fore part of the frame structure F.

The frame structure F is a rectangular frame forming the next smallerhole than the opening K, and includes a front frame Ff positioned at thelower front of the opening K, left and right side frames Fs extendingrearward from left and right side portions of this front frame Ff, and arear frame Fr connecting rear parts of these left and right side framesFs together. Note that a beam connecting midway parts of the left andright side frames Fs together may be provided.

Disposed above the front frame Ff are a first motor M1 for driving theroof panel P, a second motor M2 for moving the blind member Ba forwardand rearward, and so forth. Formed above the left and right side framesFs are guiderails Fa where left and right drive engaging members 31 formoving the roof panel P move, drain rails Fb for drainage, blind railsFc for guiding both left and right ends of a lateral bar 36 at an end ofthe blind member Ba, and so forth. Above the rear frame Fr, a roll shaft32 of the blind member Ba of the blind mechanism B is supported.

The first motor M1 is provided with a drive gear 33. With that drivegear 33, two toothed push-pull cables 34 are intermeshed. The twotoothed push-pull cables 34 are connected to the left and right driveengaging members 31, respectively. Rotation of the first motor M1 movesthe left and right drive engaging members 31 simultaneously forward orrearward. The two toothed push-pull cables 34 are respectively guided byguide pipes 35. These guide pipes 35 extend from the front frame Ffthrough frame corner portions to the left and right side frames Fs.

Also, similarly, the second motor M2 is provided with a drive gear 33.With that drive gear 33, two toothed push-pull cables 34 areintermeshed. The two toothed push-pull cables 34 are connected to theboth left and right ends of the lateral bar 36 at the end of the blindmember Ba, respectively. Rotation of the second motor M2 moves the leftand right ends of the lateral bar 36 simultaneously forward or rearward.The two toothed push-pull cables 34 are respectively guided by the guidepipes 35. These guide pipes 35 extend from the front frame Ff throughthe frame corner portions to the left and right side frames Fs.

The two guide pipes 35 on each of the left and the right are disposed,in particular, above the frame corner portions, from the front frame Ffto the left and right side frames Fs, forming a structure disposed abovethe frame structure F.

The closing panel N is a daylighting glass panel, is fixed to the leftand right side frames Fs and so forth of the frame structure F, and hasits surface substantially identical to the surface of the roof R of thevehicle and its lower portion serving as an accommodation space of theroof panel P when opened.

The roof panel P is formed from glass capable of daylighting, and haseach of left and right lower surfaces to which a lifter configuring thedrive mechanism E is attached.

The drive mechanism E is configured of a lifter 40 with a lift guide 39formed on a side surface, a drive engaging member 31 which causes thelifter 40 engaged with the lift guide 39 formed in this lifter 40 toperform a tilting motion and a sliding motion, the first motor M1 whichmoves this drive engaging member 31 to move forward and rearward via thepush-pull cables 34, and so forth.

With a fore shoe 38 provided to a fore part of the lifter 40 and thedrive engaging member 31 guided by the guiderail Fa, the roof panel P ismovable forward and rearward integrally with the lifter 40. The liftguide 39 is a cam groove and, with the drive engaging member 31 movingin that groove, the roof panel P performs a tilting motion integrallywith the lifter 40 (FIG. 2A).

With the drive engaging member 31 moving forward in the lift guide 39,the roof panel P in a posture closing the opening K performs a tilt-upmotion in which a rear part moves upward as being centered around a foreshoe 38 side. With the drive engaging member 31 moving rearward, theroof panel P in the posture closing the opening performs a tilt-downmotion in which the rear part moves downward as being centered aroundthe fore shoe 38 side. When the drive engaging member 31 reaches a rearend of the lift guide 39, in the subsequent reward movement of the driveengaging member 31, the roof panel P in the tilt-down posture is movedrearward to be under the closing panel N, thereby becoming in a postureof fully opening the opening K (FIG. 2B).

In the blind mechanism B, the blind member Ba such as a cloth is rolledup onto the roll shaft 32 above the rear frame Fr. The blind member Bahas a core material such as a cord sewn in each of left and right ends,and has the lateral bar 36 provided at the front end.

The left and right ends of this lateral bar 36 are connected to thepush-pull cables 34 driven by the second motor M2. Driving by the secondmotor M2 causes a fore part of the blind member Ba to move forward andbelow the opening K. Rolling back the blind member Ba is performed byreverse rotation of the second motor and a return spring provided to theroll shaft 32.

Also, an inner blind member Bb is provided inside the fore part of eachof the left and right side frames Fs.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 to FIG. 9 , when the roof panel P movesrearward from a tilt-down position, the deflector mechanism D movesupward (develops) by the spring force to become in a wind deflectingposture. When the roof panel P moves forward from the rear to move tothe tilt-down position, the deflector mechanism D is pushed down by theroof panel P to move downward (collapse) to become in an accommodatedposture.

The deflector mechanism D has a collapsible deflector member 11, a loweredge member 12 attached and fixed to a lower edge of this deflectormember 11 to be attached to the front frame Ff of the frame structure F,an upper edge member 13 supporting an upper edge of the deflector member11, and arms 14 supporting both ends of this upper edge member 13 tomove upward and downward.

Each of the arms 14 has an arm end 15 connected to one of lateral(longitudinal) ends of the upper edge member 13 (longitudinal direction)and an arm body 16 with a base portion attached to the frame structure Fin a manner that allows this arm end 15 to move upward and downward. Thearm end 15 is formed from a synthetic resin, and the arm body 16including an end connected to the arm end 15 is formed from a curvedleaf spring.

Also, a front attachment body 17 and an arc-shaped attachment body 18for attaching the lower edge of the deflector member 11 to the framestructure F are provided.

The deflector member 11 is formed from a breathable net material (ormesh material), and has the front portion 11 a positioned on the frontside of the opening K and left and right corner portions 11 b extending,in a curved manner, rearward from both ends of this front portion 11 a.Note that the deflector member 11 may be formed from any collapsiblematerial such as a canvas or a sheet material.

In the deflector member 11, as depicted in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2B, FIG. 5 ,and FIG. 6(A), in a developing posture with the upper edge moved upward,the front portion 11 a becomes in a posture tilted rearward from itslower edge to its upper edge, and the corner portion 11 b become in aposture as an arc-shaped surface of a cone trapezoid from its lower edgeto its upper edge.

In the deflector member 11, a band cloth is rolled to form a slenderpipe to be sewn to an upper edge of one sheet of a horizontally-longwide net material. On the upper edge of the deflector member 11including the front portion 11 a and the left and right corner portions11 b, a bag-shaped fitting portion 11 c fitted onto the upper edgemember 13 is formed. With both left and right ends of this fittingportion 11 c partially sewn, a protruded lock portion 11 d is formed.

That is, in side portions at both ends of a sewn portion forming a pipeshape at the upper edge of the net material, when lower side portions atboth ends are sewn with a hole left in upper side portions, sewing thelower side portions at both ends of the sewn portion at the upper edgeof that net material decreases an inlet inner diameter of the fittingportion 11 c, and this sewing of the lower side portions forms the lockportion 11 d.

Formed at the arm end 15 are an arc-shaped portion 15 a inserted intothe corner portion 11 b of the deflector member 11 and a substantiallylinear connecting portion 15 b positioned on an end side of thisarc-shaped portion 15 a and connected to an end of the upper edge member13 formed from the pipe material.

As depicted in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , the arc-shaped portion 15 a of thearm end 15 has a curved stick shape, has a diameter substantially equalto that of the upper edge member 13, and has an engaging portion 15 cprotruding downward and formed at an end connected to the arm body 16.The engaging portion 15 c has a surface on an arm body 16 side (surfacecorresponding to an end of the fitting portion 11 c) formedsubstantially perpendicular to a lower side surface of the arm 15 a andhas a surface on an upper edge member 13 side formed as a tilted surfacetoward the center of the upper edge member 13 with respect to the lowerside surface of the arm 15 a.

In this engaging portion 15 c, the substantially perpendicular surfacecan be engaged with the lock portion 11 d of the fitting portion 11 c ofthe deflector member 11 and, with these engaged, the corner portions 11b of the deflector member 11 are inhibited from moving to a frontportion 11 a side. The tilted surface of the engaging portion 15 cguides the lock portion 11 d of the fitting portion 11 c so that thelock portion easily engages with the substantially perpendicular surfaceof the engaging portion 15 c. That is, with the lock portion 11 d madealong the tilted surface of the engaging portion 15 c, the lock portion11 d can easily ride over the portion of the engaging portion 15 cprotruding downward to engage with the substantially perpendicularsurface of the engaging portion 15 c.

An upper portion of each corner portion 11 b of the deflector member 11substantially completely covers the arc-shaped portion 15 a of the armend 15. By the arc-shaped portion 15 a, that corner arc shape is kept.With the lock portion 11 d engaging with the engaging portion 15 c, theouter end of the corner portion 11 b of the deflector member 11 isreliably held at the outer end of the arm end 15. This can preventshifts of the front portion 11 a and the left and right corner portions11 b of the deflector member 11 to both of the inner side and the outerside in a lateral direction (vehicle-width direction) to keep a normaldeveloping posture.

The connecting portion 15 b of the arm end 15 is inserted in the end ofthe upper edge member 13 formed from a pipe material, and is providedwith an engaging protrusion 42 which moves in and out by elasticdeformation. At an end of the upper edge member 13 fitting in theconnecting portion 15 b, an engaging hole 43 which removably engageswith the engagement protrusion 42 is formed.

The engaging protrusion 42 and the engaging hole 43 are to ensureconnection between the connecting portion 15 b and the upper edge member13, configuring a detachment prevention mechanism 15 d. The detachmentprevention mechanism 15 d also has a function to prevent rotation,restricting relative rotation of the connecting portion 15 b and theupper edge member 13.

Also, a recessed portion 15 e is formed at an end of the connectingportion 15 b, and a protruded portion 13 a engaging with the recessedportion 15 e is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the upper edgemember 13 formed from the pipe material.

Engagement of the recessed portion 15 e and the protruded portion 13 aconfigures a rotation prevention means which restricts relative rotationof the connecting portion 15 b and the upper edge member 13.Furthermore, a pressing portion 15 f press-fitted onto the innerperipheral surface of the upper edge member 13 is formed to preventrattles.

In the connection between the connecting portion 15 b of the arm end 15and the upper edge member 13 formed of the pipe material, only with theend of the upper edge member 13 connected to the connecting portion 15b, a flat surface is formed from the upper edge member 13 to thearc-shaped portion 15 a, and no protruded step is present.

Thus, wind noise hardly occurs. With detachment prevention and rotationprevention, rattles are also prevented. Also, the number of componentscan be reduced.

The arm body 16 is formed from a narrow spring steel (spring bandplate). The base portion at the rear is attached to the side frame Fs tobe tilted upward to the front, urging the arm end 15 connected to thefront end to a direction of moving upward. The roof panel P at thefully-closed position or which moves to the fully-closed position pushesthe fore part of the arm end 15 or the arm body 16 downward.

In FIG. 1 , FIG. 5 , and FIG. 6 to FIG. 9 , the lower edge of thedeflector member 11 has a notch 11 e formed between the front portion 11a and the corner portion 11 b (depicted in FIG. 7 ). The lower edgemember 12 is formed as being divided into a front lower edge member 12 aattached to the lower edge of the front portion 11 a and an arc-shapedlower edge member 12 b attached to the lower edge of the corner portion11 b. Provided laterally from the center to each side of the front frameFf are a front attachment body 17 and an arc-shaped attachment body 18to which the front lower edge member 12 a and the arc-shaped lower edgemember 12 b are detachably attached, respectively.

The front attachment body 17 has a loose arc shape (or may have a linearshape) protruding from left and right toward the center, and hasattached thereto the front lower edge member 12 a as being inserted fromabove. This front attachment body 17 is integrally molded with the frontframe Ff, but can be formed from a synthetic resin or the like and beattached to the front frame Ff via a fixture.

As depicted in FIG. 6(B), the front attachment body 17 has a hookhanging part 17 a formed thereon. The front lower edge member 12 a isformed in a hook shape (fabric support shape) which detachably engageswith the hook hanging part 17 a.

The front portion 11 a of the deflector member 11 is provided to extendin a manner such that its lower end is in contact with an upper portionof the back surface of the front lower edge member 12 a and is sewn,downward from its end, to the back surface of the front lower edgemember 12 a to a midway height and, when the posture of the deflectormember 11 is changed from the collapsed posture to the wind deflectionposture, the front portion 11 a of the deflector member 11 extendsupward from this midway height of the back surface.

With the lower portion of the front portion 11 a oriented downward fromthe upper portion of the back surface of the front lower edge member 12a to the midway height, when the posture of the deflector member 11 ischanged from the wind deflection posture to the collapsed posture andthe deflector member 11 is stored, the upper portion of the frontportion 11 a moves down to be collapsed for storage so that thedeflector member 11 is always drops downward from the lower end of thefront portion 11 a. Thus, it is possible to prevent the deflector member11 from closing the opening K as protruding above the roof panel P.

The lower portion of the front portion 11 a is sewn downward to the backsurface of the front lower edge member 12 but, instead of being sewn,may be fused, welded, bonded by a double-sided tape, or the like, or maybe directly attached to a vertical rib or the like provided on the uppersurface of the front frame Ff. That is, it is only required forattachment that the front portion 11 a has a bonded portion 11 f bondeddownward from an end to the lower edge member 12 a and unbonded portion11 g adjacent to this bonded portion 11 f and the unbonded portion 11 gdrops downward when the deflector member 11 is stored. An edge of thisunbonded portion 11 g is supported by the upper edge member 13.Furthermore, as depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 , at least one plateformed from a synthetic resin or the like is provided on the surface ofthe front surface 11 a of the deflector member 11, thereby making iteasy for the upper portion of the front portion 11 a to move down anddrop downward from the lower end of the front portion 11 a.

The arc-shaped attachment body 18 is formed from a synthetic resin orthe like and attached to the front frame Ff. On its upper surface side,an arc-shaped groove portion 18 a having a substantially arc-shapedgroove in a planar view and a detachment inhibiting portion 18 b bulgingabove the groove of this arc-shaped groove portion 18 a. When thearc-shaped lower edge member 12 b is inserted along the groove of thearc-shape groove portion 18 a into that groove from a substantiallyhorizontal direction, upward detachment is inhibited by the detachmentinhibiting portion 18 b. According to this structure, the arc-shapedlower edge member 12 b can be formed so as to have a small thickness ina vehicle vertical direction. Note that the arc-shaped groove portion 18a may be formed on a side surface side of the arc-shaped attachment body18. In that case, the arc-shaped lower edge member 12 b can be formed soas to have a small thickness in a vehicle width direction. Furthermore,the arc-shaped attachment body 18 may not be provided as a separatebody, and may be integrally formed with the front frame Ff or the sideframes Fs.

The left and right corner portions 11 b of the deflector member 11 areeach provided with the arc-shaped lower edge member 12 b at the loweredge. With this arc-shaped lower edge member 12 b attached to thearc-shaped attachment body 18, the arc shape of the lower edge isensured.

In the arc-shaped attachment body 18, a bridge portion 18 c and an endattachment portion 18 d are formed adjacently to the arc-shaped grooveportion 18 a. The bridge portion 18 c has a cavity on a lower surfaceside at a position corresponding to the notch 11 e of the lower edge ofthe deflector member 11, and thus can be disposed over the guide pipes35, which are a structure on the frame structure F, and so forth, so asto avoid interference therewith. The bridge portion 18 c may have aholding function of preventing floating of the structure.

The end attachment portion 18 d is formed adjacently to the bridgeportion 18 c and is thus integral also to the arc-shaped groove portion18 a and, together with the front attachment body 17, has the end of thefront lower edge member 12 a removably attached thereto.

With the end of the front lower edge member 12 a as well as thearc-shaped lower edge member 12 b of the corner portion 11 b attached tothe arc-shaped attachment body 18, a positional relation between thefront portion 11 a of the deflector member 11 and the lower edge of thecorner portion 11 b is ensured.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 and FIG. 10 to FIG. 14 , the drip mechanism H isconfigured to receive rain water dripping from the rear edge of the roofpanel P in the tilt-up posture and from the front edge of the closingpanel N, receive rain water dripping from the rear edge of the roofpanel P in the tilt-down posture, and receive rain water as movingtogether with the rear edge of the roof panel P until the roof panel Pmoves rearward to become in a fully-opened posture.

The drip mechanism H has a drip member 21 which covers over the entirelength of a lower side of the rear edge of the roof panel P, a pair ofleft and right movable bodies 22 provided in the left and right sideportions of the frame structure F, respectively, a lifting unit 23connecting the drip member 21 to each of the left and right movablebodies 22 in a manner that allows the drip member 21 to move upward anddownward, and an interlocking member 24 connecting the drip member 21with the roof panel P.

The drip member 21 is configured so as to have a convex shape at thecenter in a lateral direction, with both left and right ends down to bepositioned above drain rails Fb on the left and right side frames Fs;have an inverted-C-shaped cross section; and have an upper surface wherea trough portion 21 a with its upside open is formed so that rain waterdripping from above is received by the trough portion 21 a to be flownfrom the trough portion 21 a to the drain rails Fb.

In the lifting unit 23, a pair of front and rear link members 25F and25R connecting the drip member 21 with the movable body 22 and an urgingmember 26 urging, in a rising direction, portions of these paired linkmembers 25F and 25R on the drip-member-21 connected side are provided.

The front and rear link members 25F and 25R of the lifting unit 23 areparallel to each other and set to have substantially the same linklength L, and the front and rear link members 25F and 25R are tilted sothat their upper portions are positioned at the rear of their lowerportions.

In the front link member 25F of the lifting unit 23, a front engagementportion 25 fb projects rearward-downward from a lower pivotallysupporting portion 25 fa, in the rear link member 25R of the liftingunit 23, a rear engagement portion 25 rb projects forward-upward from alower pivotally supporting portion 25 ra, and a single urging member 26is connected so as to apply a tensile force to the front engagementportion 25 fb of the front link member 25F and the rear engagementportion 25 rb of the rear link member 25R.

Each of the left and right movable bodies 22 includes a rear pivotallysupporting portion 22 r pivotally supporting the lower pivotallysupporting portion 25 ra of the rear link member 25R and a frontpivotally supporting portion 22 f disposed at higher position comparedto this rear pivotally supporting portion 22 r and pivotally supportingthe lower pivotally supporting portion 25 fa of the front link member25F.

The paired left and right movable bodies 22 are movably disposed on theguiderails Fa of the of the left and right side frames Fs, respectively.Each movable body 22 has its upper surface side opened upward from thefront pivotally supporting portion 22 f to the rear pivotally supportingportion 22 r so as to form a placement space 22 a in which the lowerpivotally supporting portions 25 fa and 25 ra of the front and rear linkmembers 25F and 25R and the urging member 26 connected to both of thelower pivotally supporting portions 25 fa and 25 ra are disposed.

Also, stopper parts 27 are formed at the upper front and the lower frontof the disposition space 22 a of the movable body 22, and are configuredso that the front engagement portion 25 fb of the front link member 25Fabuts on the stopper part 27 to restrict rising of the link member Fand, when the front link member 25F falls down to the lowest position,the front engagement portion 25 fb of the front link member 25F abuts onthe stopper part 27 to inhibit a further falling motion. When fallingdown to the lowest position, the front and rear link members 25F and 25Rbecome in a substantially horizontal posture.

Since the front link member 25F has the front engagement portion 25 fbprotruded downward from the lower pivotally supporting portion 25 fa,the front pivotally supporting portion 22 f is formed above the rearpivotally supporting portion 22 r. To avoid interference with this frontpivotally supporting portion 22 f positioned above, notched recessedportions 21 b are formed in fore parts on both left and right sides ofthe drip member 21. Since the notched recessed portions 21 b can avoidinterference with the front pivotally supporting portion 22 f, the dripmember 21 can move downward to a height substantially similar to that ofthe front pivotally supporting portion 22 f, thereby reducing thevertical dimensions of the device.

The interlocking member 24 has formed at a fore part a front connectingpin part 24 f rotatably connected to a rear part of the lift guide 39and has formed at a rear part a rear connecting pin part 24 r rotatablyconnected to the drip member 21. The rear connecting pin part 24 r alsoserves as a connecting pin for connecting the upper portion of the frontlink member 25F and the drip member 21.

When the roof panel P is in the fully-closed posture, a first abuttingsurface 21 c formed on the upper surface at each of left and right sideends of the drip member 21 and on a roof panel P side abuts on the roofpanel P to be kept at a raised position. When the lifter 40 performs atilt-up motion, a second abutting surface 21 d formed on the uppersurface at each of the left and right side ends of the drip member 21and on a closing panel N side abuts on the closing panel N to be kept ata raised position.

When the lifter 40 performs a tilt-down motion, the interlocking member24 rotates, and the roof panel P pushes the drip member 21 downward,thereby bringing the front and rear link members 25F and 25R downagainst the urging member 26 and moving the drip member 21 down to causethe roof panel P to become in a tilt-down state.

When the roof panel P performs tilt-up and tilt-down motions, the upperrear portions of the front and rear link members 25F and 25R swing asbeing centered around the lower pivotally supporting portions 25 fa and25 ra of the lower front portions, respectively. Since the front andrear link members 25F and 25R are parallel links which are parallel andhave a substantially equal link length L, the drip member 21 verticallyperforms translation operation as keeping the horizontal posture, andthus can receive rain water dripping from above in the trough portion 21a without leakage.

When the lifter 40 moves rearward, as the distance between the dripmember 21 and the rear edge of the roof panel P is kept, theinterlocking member 24 pushes and moves the drip member 21 and the frontand rear link members 25F and 25R. Here, in the drip member 21, thenotched recessed portion 21 b of the fore part on each of the left andright sides is down at a position of fitting in (vertically overlapping)the front pivotally supporting portion 22 f of the movable body 22, andthus the vertical dimensions of the rear portion of the sunroof device 1can be shortened.

When the lifter 40 moves forward, the drip member 21 and the front andrear link members 25F and 25R are pulled forward via the interlockingmember 24.

Note that the present invention is not limited by the embodiment and theshape, configuration, combination, and so forth of the members can bechanged.

For example, as for mounting the sunroof device 1 on the vehicle, thesunroof device 1 may be attached from the upper surface of the roof R ofthe vehicle on the peripheral edge of the opening K. Also, as for thepanels, the invention may be applied to the roof R of the vehiclewithout the closing panel N and with the opening K formed to be coveredand uncovered by the roof panel P, a type in which the roof panel P doesnot tilt up and tilts down and then moves rearward, or a type in whichthe roof panel P tilts up and then moves rearward above the closingpanel N. Also, the blind mechanism B may be omitted.

The front and rear link members 25F and 25R may be slightly unparallel,may have slightly different link lengths L, and may be tilted upward atthe front. The urging member 26 which urges the front and rear linkmembers 25F and 25R to a rising direction may be provided individuallyto the front and rear link members 25F and 25R.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   1: sunroof    -   11: deflector member    -   11 a: front portion    -   11 b: corner portion    -   14: arm    -   21: drip member    -   B: blind mechanism    -   D: deflector mechanism    -   E: drive mechanism    -   F: frame structure    -   H: drip mechanism    -   K: opening    -   N: closing panel    -   P: roof panel    -   R: roof of a vehicle

1. A deflector mechanism for a sunroof device that is disposed in a forepart of a frame structure disposed under an opening formed in a roof ofa vehicle and that is configured to move upward, as a roof panelconfigured to cover and uncover the opening moves rearward from a fullyclosed position, the deflector mechanism comprising: a collapsibledeflector member including a front portion positioned on a front side ofthe opening and corner portions extending, in a curved manner, rearwardfrom both ends of the front portion, respectively; a lower edge memberfixed to a lower edge of the deflector member and attached to a forepart of the frame structure; an upper edge member supporting an upperedge of the deflector member; and arms, each including an arm endconnected to one of longitudinal ends of the upper edge member, and abase portion attached to the frame structure in a manner that allows thearm end to move upward and downward, wherein a lower edge of thedeflector member includes a notch between the front portion and thecorner portion, the lower edge member is divided into a front lower edgemember attached to a lower edge of the front portion, and an arc-shapedlower edge member attached to a lower edge of the corner portion, andthe frame structure includes a front attachment body and an arc-shapedattachment body to which the front lower edge member and the arc-shapedlower edge member are detachably attached, respectively.
 2. Thedeflector mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the arc-shapedattachment body includes an arc-shaped groove portion including a grooveinto which the arc-shaped lower edge member is removably inserted in asubstantially horizontal direction, and a detachment prevention portionconfigured to prevent the arc-shaped lower edge member inserted into thearc-shaped groove portion, from being detached upward.
 3. The deflectormechanism of claim 1, wherein the arc-shaped attachment body includes abridge portion disposed at a position corresponding to the notch of thelower edge of the deflector member, and an end attachment portion thatis adjacent to the bridge portion and to which an end of the front loweredge member is detachably attached.
 4. The deflector mechanism of claim1, wherein the front portion includes a bonded portion bonded to thefront lower edge member such that the bonded portion extends downwardfrom an edge of the front portion, and an unbonded portion adjacent tothe bonded portion, and an edge of the unbonded portion is supported bythe upper edge member.